Many times, when we pray, we expect God to do something miraculous or extraordinary. But oftentimes, He answers our prayers by telling us to do something ordinary.

Today’s Gospel reading tells the story of how Jesus healed the son of a royal official.

“When [the royal official] heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. The royal official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You may go; your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.” — John 4:47,49-50

What are you praying for?

Many times, when we pray, we expect God to do something miraculous or extraordinary, like a miraculous healing or an unexpected blessing.

But most of the time, He answers our prayers by telling us to do something ordinary, like going in faith, working harder, or persevering.

In the case of the royal official, he was praying for something extraordinary — the healing of his son. But he probably also expected an extraordinary sign from Jesus by asking him to come down with him to his son. Yet, Jesus told him to do something ordinary — to simply go back to his son.

The royal official did the ordinary with faith and received what he was asking Jesus.